Record for talking-machines.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

E. R. JOHNSON.

RECORD POR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30'.1904. RENBWED 0OT.12, 1907.

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WHA/55555 UALLAnU ELDRIDGE R. JOHNSON, OF MERION,

MACHINE COMPANY, A

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TALKING CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RECORD FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

I i Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 30, 19011, Serial No. 222,6537.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE l. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Merion, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Records forTalking-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and completedisclosure of different forms thereof.

I-Ieretofore in the manufacture of 'llat disk records for talkingmachines it has been the practice to stamp out the record disks from asuitable material by means of a die containing a matrix upon the surfaceof which has been engraved or otherwise placed the record grooves, whichgrooves in connection with the sound box are adapted to reproduce thesounds impressed upon the original recorr. The record disks formed by soimpressing the matrices have usually been of some hard, durable materialwhich softens under the influence of heat, but which is hard and vfirmunder normal conditions of temperature. The material usually employedfor making these records has been in the form of flat sheets and havebeen of uniform thickness throughout the entire extent of the disk withthe possible exception of the central portion where the label has beenimpressed or countersunk into the material during the pressing orforming of the record. This material, in many instances has been asubstance caller duranoir which consists of shellac and certain othercoloring pigments and strengthening ingredients. Other similar materialswhich have been used are hard rubber and cclluloid. It will be realizedthat these compositions are expensive when used in large quantities,especially in view of the fact that talking machine records now employedin this art have been steadily increasing in size.

One object, therefore, of my invention is to produce a record which mayhave all the advantages of a flat disk record of uniform thickness butwhich will at the same time be much lighter and, therefore, lessexpensive in original cost and also will be easier to handle and lessexpensive in transportation either by mail, freight or express.

A further object of my invention is to provide a record disk which willbe easily and accurately centered upon the talking machine turntableWithout the employment of unnecessary material at the center "of therecord Patented May 19, 1908.

Renewed October 12, 1907. Serial No. 397,168.

wh ere the radius is too small for the ellicient recording of the soundwaves.

A further object of my invention is the product-ion of a record whichwill have strengthening means of such form as to give a stiH' and lirmbacking for the reproducing surface in connection with the centralopening without the necessity of employing the amount of materialrequired in a disk record having a smooth under surface.

Briefly, my invention comprises a disk record having the center which is'free 'from the grooves containing the sound waves cut away or omittedforming an annular plate or sur- `face in the opening of which a card,label or centering plate may be carried for the purpose of fixing therecord upon the turntable in the usual manner.

For a full, clear and exact description of these forms of my inventionreference may be had to the following specification and to theaccompanying drawing forming a part thereof in which Figure l is areverse plan view of a talking machine record having concentricstrengthening ribs on its under surface and having the center of saidrecord provided with a centering plate made in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2, a similar view of a record having both concentric andradial strengthening ribs; and Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectionalviews of the records shown in Figs. l and 2, and indicating two ways ofattaching the designating label which also serves in these instances ascentering means. r

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a flat, annular pieceof duranoid or other material used in the manufacture of records havinga central openii 1g 2 therein and being provided upon the edge of saidopening and upon the outer edge by strengthening flanges 3 and 4l. Theinner edge or surface of the annular plate is provided with a lowerflange 5 upon which a disk G of nietal, pasteboard or similar stiffmaterial is adapted to rest, said disk being held in position within thesaid opening upon said ila-nge in any suit able manner such as bycementing or being impressed therein during the forming of the record.The cent-er of the disk 6 is provided with an opening 7 which is adaptedto receive the central stud or shaft of the turntable spindle intheusual manner.

In Fig. 2, I have shown in addition, to

the concentric strengthening ribs, radial strengthening ribs 7 whichgive the required stiffness to the record out to its eXtreme edge.Different forms and arrangements of these strengthening ribs have beendescribed and claimed in a separate application filed here with Ser. No.222,685, dated August 30,1904.

ln Fig. 4, l have shown a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 3except that the centering disk or label rests upon a flange 9 which isat the upper portion ofthe opening 3, the centeringl disk or label 6being forced against the same from the under side of the record andbeing retained thereon in the manner above referred to.

Having thus described these forms of my invention, what l claim anddesire to protect by Letters Patent, is

l. ln a record for talking machines, the combination of a thin annularrecord portion, havinO an internal and an external flange, and radialribs extending between said flanges; of a centering disk, engaging theinner flange of said annular portion and permanently secured thereto.

2. ln a record for talking machines, the combination of a thin annularrecord portion, having an internal and an external 1' flange and radialribs extending between said flanges, with a printed label engaging the linner flange of said annular portion and perl manently secured thereto.

,l 3. In a record for talking machines, a comi bination of a thinannular record portion l having an internal and external iiange,shoulders or seats on the inner edges of said flange, l andstrengthening ribs extending between [said flanges; with a centeringdisk, permanently secured to said shoulders or seat` Il 4. A record fortalking machines comprisl ing a substantially flat disk having a centralopening therein occupying the space not taken up by the record grooves,a flange upon a the inner surface of said opening and a plate ,l of thindurable material retained in position j uponI said flange having a holetherein for l centering the record upon the turntable, said l plate alsobeing adapted to receive printed l matter in the ,form of a label orotherwise.

J ln witness whereof, l have hereunto set my l hand this 29th day ofAugust, 1904.

ELDRIDGE R. JOHNSON.

lVitnesses WILLIAM F. BRENNAN, Enw. W. VAILL, Jr.

